January Superfood: Citrus

Hello! It’s your campus dietitian, Ashley, here. Every new year is fresh start. Why should 2017 be any different? This month we’re starting fresh with citrus featured throughout dining halls on campus. Why Citrus? Not only are citrus fruits refreshing and delicious, they are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Check out a few citrus facts and some ways to incorporate them into your diet.

Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, kumquats, and clementines are just a few examples of citrus. You should also check out blood oranges (my fav), tangelos, and pomelos.

Citrus fruits are an excellent source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant, which protects the body from damaging free radicals.

Carotenoids, the red, orange and yellow pigments, found in fruits and vegetables are widely studied and appear to protect humans against certain cancers, heart disease, and age-related macular degeneration.

Citrus Fruits are also good sources of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and a variety of B vitamins.